Chris Darnell (M 65) has been in touch about a story concerning another former Melvill pupil, Captain Francis Hewson Barton (M 1894), whose medals recently came up for auction in London.
Bedfordshire Regiment, Royal Irish Rifles and the Indian Army
Born at Farndreg, Dundalk, Francis Barton was educated at Haileybury and at Trinity College, Dublin before joining the Bedfordshire Regiment and serving with them in South Africa, where he was mentioned in despatches.
In October 1901 he transferred to the Royal Irish Rifles and thence to the Indian Army in 1903 where he served in the 2nd (King Edward’s Own) Gurkha Rifles.
As Chris writes, “I find it interesting that he was in my old house and that he is the third OH – that I know of – to end up serving in the 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles): Francis Barton, Field Marshall Sir John Chapple and myself!”
Are there any other OHs out there who form part of this illustrious club, we wonder?
F H Barton’s medals auctioned
The medals auctioned, which were expected to achieve £500-£600 were as follows:
- The Queen’s South Africa Medal (1899-1902), 3 Clasps,
- The King’s South Africa Medal (1901-2), 2 Clasps,
- 1914 Star – awarded when he was a Captain in the Gurkhas
- British War Medal
- British Victory Medal
- Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque
Captain Barton was killed in action in Flanders on 2nd November 1914 and is buried at the Royal Irish Rifles graveyard at Laventie in France.
About the Roll of Honour
The information in this article forms part of a wider project for Old Haileyburians to submit information of family members who died on military service and who are commemorated in our Roll of Honour. Our Roll of Honour page enables you also to supply information about your own family members who died on active service.